TWRA: Hunter safety signups move online

Registration for a Tennessee Hunter Education course will be required to be made online beginning Jan. 1, 2013, on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website at www.tnwildlife.org.

Special to The Oak Ridger

Registration for a Tennessee Hunter Education course will be required to be made online beginning Jan. 1, 2013, on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website at www.tnwildlife.org.

On the TWRA website, those wishing to register for a class will click the “register for a hunter education class” link. Once clicking the link, there will be directions to search for hunter education classes closest to your area.

Registration must be completed prior to the starting date of a class to ensure a spot in a particular class. For those persons without computer access, they are encouraged to visit a local library or call a TWRA regional office for further assistance.

Advance registration provides more time for instructors to devote to students. It also provides a quicker method for the registration process.

Gun season sees deer harvest increase

Tennessee sportsmen harvested more than 17,000 deer statewide on the opening weekend of gun season for deer as harvest numbers continue to be reported.

The 17,093 reported as of noon (CST) on Monday surpasses the 2011 total of 14,463 over the same time frame in 2011. Since the initial segment of archery season for deer began on Sept. 22, 84,825 deer have been harvested, an increase of 3,522 over the same period as last year.

On the opening weekend of gun season, Giles County was the overall top county harvest with 720 deer harvested. Rounding out the top 10 counties over the weekend were Henry County 662, Fayette County 622, Weakley County 566, Hardeman County 560, Maury County 538, Lincoln County 496, Carroll County 467, Madison County 420, and Lawrence County 373.

Tennessee sportsmen have one continuous gun season that will continue through Jan. 6, 2013. The continuous season replaced the previously two segmented hunting seasons that were in place prior to last year.

For more information about Tennessee’s deer hunting seasons, refer to the 2012 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide available at all license agents or on the TWRA website.